Court Reporting in United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates does not recognize depositions as we do in the United States but many U.S. depositions take place there. Planet Depos has extensive experience providing litigation support and has created the below checklist for your ease and convenience.

Allowing enough time (roughly between 4-6 weeks is ideal) for scheduling depositions in the UAE is extremely important because of the logistics associated with the scheduling and planning processes. However, as the only firm with teams living on the ground in the UAE, we are often able to cover last-minute requests.

1. Counsel will determine whether or not their witness is willing to be deposed. If so, both parties can stipulate mutually and begin the process of setting up the deposition
2. Select the deposition services needed:
   • U.S.-trained court reporter
   • U.S.-trained legal videographer
   • Interpreter
3. What is the location of the deposition in the UAE?
   • Do you need Planet Depos to reserve a conference room for you?
4. If not participating in person, do you require videoconferencing services? (If not, please skip to the next item on the checklist)
   • Do you need a location in the UAE?
   • Will you need a location in the United States?
   • Can you attend from your firm’s videoconference suite?
   • Ask about Planet Depos’ Mobile Videoconferencing capabilities!
5. Document Production
   • Do you need assistance with exhibit printing?
6. Select your deposition date
   • Start time
   • End time
7. Visa Restrictions: A tourist or business visa is required for travel to the UAE. Contact Planet Depos for visa assistance
8. Make travel arrangements
   • Contact Planet Depos for information about corporate discounts with our partner hotels
   • Flight
   • Car rental
   • Lodging
9. Send protective order to Planet Depos for representatives to sign (if applicable)
10. Have you filled out the Planet Depos Standing Order Form? It’s an easy process that takes less than 60 seconds and will let us know:
    • Transcript turnaround time (regular or expedited)
    • Who should receive the Rough ASCII and final transcript
    • The number of realtime laptops that are needed
    • Preferred video format (DVD, MPEG1, Loaded DVD, Synchronized Viewer)
11. Send out Notice of Deposition to all counsel, your witness, and Planet Depos
12. Send prep materials to Planet Depos for reporter’s deposition preparation:
    • Notice of deposition
    • Answer to Complaint
    • Subpoena
    • Previous transcript(s)
    • Word index
13. Obtain emergency contact information for Planet Depos representatives
14. Provide emergency contact information of counsel

Travel safely to the UAE and contact Planet Depos with any questions once you’ve arrived!

Planet Depos is the only international court reporting company with U.S. trained and certified court reporters who actually live in Asia. To demonstrate our commitment to Asia, Planet Depos has registered offices throughout Asia. Further, there are no travel expenses for court reporters or videographers.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country that is very impactful in the Middle East. Although the country itself does not recognize what we in the U.S. consider depositions, depositions occur in the UAE all the time. Planet Depos offers 24/7 assistance for all your deposition needs. Our professional court reporters, videographers, and interpreters have been covering depositions in the UK for over 15 years. We can provide guidance to you for anything related to the scheduling process, travel, and document assistance in the UAE.

Entry Requirements for the UAE

A tourist or business visa is required for entry into the UAE when traveling from the United States. A traveler is not able to obtain either before departure but the good news is that it can be issued upon arrival in the UAE. When traveling to the United Arab Emirates, there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Current state of your passport
   • Your passport will need to be valid for at least 90 days from your departure date in the United Arab Emirates
   • Ensure that your passport has two (2) unused pages in the Visas section before any
2. Be aware of any connecting flights you will experience and whether or not a visa is required in those countries.

For more information on travel requirements to the United Arab Emirates, please contact the Consular office in Washington, D.C.:

3522 International Court, NW
Suite 100
Washington, DC 20008
(P): 202.243.2400

For updated travel alerts and information, please visit the website of the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. You can also download the Smart Traveler Smartphone App created by the U.S. Department of State.

Flying to the UAE

The following airports in the UAE accept international flights from North America:

• Abu Dhabi International (AUH)
• Al Ain Airport (AAN)
• Dubai International (DXB)
• Ras al Khaimah International (RKT)
• Sharjah International (SHJ)

Airlines

The following airlines offer direct flights from the United States to the United Arab Emirates:

• Emirates Airline
• Delta
• Etihad Airways
• United Airlines

Travel in the UAE

Staying in the United Arab Emirates

Cities in the UAE, such as Dubai, offer some of the most gorgeous hotels in the world. For more hotel information, please contact Planet Depos’ International Scheduling Department to explore our business relationship with hotels in the UAE.

Medical Information

Generally, there are many updated medical facilities in the UAE, which are English-friendly. For a list of local-speaking doctors, please contact the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers
For updated health information, including health travel alerts, view the Health Information for Travelers to the United Arab Emirates at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Required Vaccinations

Currently, there are no specific vaccinations required to travel to the United Arab Emirates.

Immunizations

The following are recommended immunizations to travel to the United Arab Emirates:

• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Polio
• Seasonal Influenza
• Pneumococcal
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Rabies

Money Matters

The currency in the United Arab Emirates is the UAE Dirham. The U.S. Dollar can be exchanged for the Dirham currency easily when traveling to the UAE. However, you will find that the custom of banking is slightly different than the United States. In the UAE, banks are open Saturday through Thursday and are not open on Fridays. As with all travel, the Planet Depos International Department advises our clients to travel with more than one form of payment, such as cash and credit card.

For up-to-date information on the local conversion rate, please visit a reputable currency converter website such as OANDA which also provides an app for smartphones.

Weather

The seasonal climate in the UAE, specifically Dubai, is every warm weather traveler’s dream. There is not any month in the year that doesn’t average above 70°F. December through March can experience small rainstorms and sometimes thunderstorms but in comparison the United States, there is very little rainfall in the UAE and you can expect to experience wonderfully warm temperature and sun all year long.

Voltage Information

The voltage in the UAE is 220/240V. Although some outlets in the country will work with U.S. plug types and voltages, travelers should bring voltage converters and plug adapters for all of your U.S. appliances.

Important Websites & Resources

U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Travel Apps on iOS
AppStore for your Android

Planet Depos is the only international court reporting company with U.S. trained and certified court reporters who actually live in Asia. To demonstrate our commitment to Asia, Planet Depos has registered offices throughout Asia. Further, there are no travel expenses for court reporters or videographers.